An opportunity to reinvigorate and reimagine the communities in West Kildare from Robertstown to Athy, through collaboration – Local Transition Plan W Kildare

Some of the actions identified in this 2022 plan are: 

  • Progress the opportunity for a new National Peatlands Park for Ireland
  • Stimulus for community owned Marinas and facilities as key Blueway infrastructure to support the growing Tourism sector
  • Encourage new community development groups to emerge
  • Grow the capacity for communities to help themselves through ‘One-stop shops’ at community hubs. These will enhance the ability of communities to access funding opportunities and skills training, as well as supporting remote working
  • Community retrofit support

Here are some extracts of interest to local and visiting boaters, cyclists and walkers –

Barrow Blueway ‘runs through several towns from Robertstown to Athy, which can be home to new community Marinas and facilities. The Canal Hotel in Robertstown East is a prime opportunity to develop a community owned facility. This can include canal moorings, café, shower facilities, and laundry facilities for boaters, as well as cyclists and hikers. These services can be introduced overtime, perhaps by different business owners.’

Peatlands Park:  ……….. the park ‘would therefore complement the current plans in place to grow the Greenway and Blueway network within West Kildare. Kildare County Council in conjunction with Laois County Council and Waterways Ireland have commenced works to the proposed Barrow Blueway which will provide a multi-use shared leisure route comprising 46km of off-road, flat, accessible, public space connecting Lowtown, through the towns of Rathangan, Monasterevin, and Vicarstown, to Athy.

Levitstown Mill:  ……. ‘the site’s potential for developing a unique sustainable eco-tourism offer – at the centre of which is the site’s working hydro-electric turbine. Further, while the site already enjoys extensive River Barrow and Grand Canal frontage, proposed plans will see the Barrow Blueway run through the centre of the proposed seven-acre site, linking it to the wider eco-tourism activity in West Kildare.’